Ask a Question, Get An Answer About Outerwear

[Zoro]

Hello! So i have a Bill Kelso A-2 and a Lost worlds A-2, and i was looking into getting a Five star A-2 as well. My question is if i were to get an A-2, would i be disappointed in quality compared to the two that i have now. I surely don’t expect $1500 quality, but i just don’t know if it’s even worth it after having the two that i have now.

The customization and short time for production is really what’s making me want to just pull the trigger on one. i am only looking at their horsehide and wondering which of their contracts they were able to get their hands on and actually replicate.

thank you all in advance,
Brandon

I'm curious, if you already have two A-2 jackets from two of the most renowned makers, why would you want a third one from one that is inconsistent at best?

There's a very lengthy thread on Five Star and the reviews are quite mixed, although in the recent times I would say they skew towards more negative. Funny enough, a lounger recently posted his Five Star CHP that actually looks quite good, but IMO if I was you it would just not be worth the risk/hassle.

 

[Bmiller01]

I'm curious, if you already have two A-2 jackets from two of the most renowned makers, why would you want a third one from one that is inconsistent at best?

There's a very lengthy thread on Five Star and the reviews are quite mixed, although in the recent times I would say they skew towards more negative. Funny enough, a lounger recently posted his Five Star CHP that actually looks quite good, but IMO if I was you it would just not be worth the risk/hassle.

i think you’re absolutely right for asking why i would want one. there’s certainly no need for it, i think i’m mostly curious in the fact that a lot of the ones i’ve seen, that being ones either minimally customized or not at all, do tend to turn out fairly decent looking, at least in pictures.

I have only had my hands on the two i have now so i have no context for anything else.

i think having for lack of better words, a beater jacket would be the driving reason for getting one. i’ll have to look at the thread you attached.

 

[Zoro]

a beater jacket would be the driving reason for getting one

Why not go through the used market on ebay and such, then? Hard to beat (heh) an already used jacket as a beater.

 

[jchance]

i think you’re absolutely right for asking why i would want one. there’s certainly no need for it, i think i’m mostly curious in the fact that a lot of the ones i’ve seen, that being ones either minimally customized or not at all, do tend to turn out fairly decent looking, at least in pictures.

I have only had my hands on the two i have now so i have no context for anything else.

i think having for lack of better words, a beater jacket would be the driving reason for getting one. i’ll have to look at the thread you attached.

Let me use a weather example to prove a point. I live in Southern California where it’s 70 degree Fahrenheit all year round. It’s hard for me to appreciate weather because it’s always nice. I used to live in Minnesota where it was so cold, like 9 months out of the year were cold with 5 months of snow not melting. But Minnesota has a nice summer of 3 months. People there, and I at the time, really appreciate the short summer while it lasted. But that’s short lived for me, because once I moved back to SoCal, I quickly forget about the weather and my prior appreciation for it. It’s like moving up in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Idk much about Bill Kelso but I assumes his product is also top notch. I know LW is. Maybe you’re itchy to experience the lows in order to appreciate the highs. Nothing is wrong with that, but it’s an exercise in futility for your wallet and would bring you immense disappointment. However, what you gain from the experience is greater appreciation for the 2 jackets you have already had. You’d prob end up selling the 5*.

Imo, if I were you, I’d just use one A-2 more often and make it a beater jacket to wear it out. I’d keep the other one with less use to be newer looking for special occasions. You have already had 2, not 1, you don’t need a beater jacket. Go explore other designs and top brands instead. Get a Cal, for example. Have you seen the following linked thread?

Repros are nice and all, but they can’t measure up to the real things. The former is either too perfectly engineered, as in the case with Freewheelers, or the grains haven’t even popped yet. The latter has so much more character and history behind it, I guarantee boredom wouldn’t a feeling you’d get like with repros. Others have experienced it and shared it all over the forum if you do a search. I’ve seen people’s jacket journeys recently and most of I saw was Aero, Vanson, Schott and 5*. My reaction was like “bro, you have not lived yet, even after 10+ jackets later.” @TartuWolf shots fired ******* pew

Vintage Cal - It's changing my outlook on things

I definitely have jumped into this hobby head first. I won't deny it. Didn't even know what Aero, Himmel, Real McCoys, etc. were. Barely had heard about Schott. Didn't know the components on a jacket like a biswing back, cross zip, half belts, etc. Probably generally categorized them into...

www.thefedoralounge.com

This (Cal) could be yours. It came with the patinas someone else has already paid a lifetime of hard wearing for you.

If you only like A-2, fine. Get an original, like the one below.

 

[AHP91]

Any experts out there out old sewing techniques, fabrics, etc.? I posted on a military forum, haven't heard much of a response yet. Obviously looks like the 1930s CCC Army pullover, however in a fabric I've never seen before.

Took a gamble on this piece, seller didn't seem to know what it was. Condition is obviously suspiciously good if original, but it did come from Japan and I've bought some really nice condition rare items from there before. I was looking at all aspects of this piece and I have a hunch that it's indeed an old piece. Any input appreciated.

 

[jchance]

Any experts out there out old sewing techniques, fabrics, etc.? I posted on a military forum, haven't heard much of a response yet. Obviously looks like the 1930s CCC Army pullover, however in a fabric I've never seen before.

Took a gamble on this piece, seller didn't seem to know what it was. Condition is obviously suspiciously good if original, but it did come from Japan and I've bought some really nice condition rare items from there before. I was looking at all aspects of this piece and I have a hunch that it's indeed an old piece. Any input appreciated.

It looks Chamois just like the JP seller claims it is. Chamois can be leather-based (oiled nubuck leather) but your shirt looks cotton-based, like the one below.

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m89003734334

https://www.ratioclothing.com/products/black-chamois

 

[AHP91]

It looks Chamois just like the JP seller claims it is. Chamois can be leather-based (oiled nubuck leather) but your shirt looks cotton-based, like the one below.

http://[URL]https://jp.mercari.com/item/m89003734334

[/URL]

http://[URL]https://www.ratioclothing.com/products/black-chamois

[/URL]

View attachment 740398 View attachment 740399

Yes, thanks. I'm not questioning the fabric material, I'm questioning whether it's a decades old piece or a new piece, based on buttons, seam construction, wear, etc.

 

[jchance]

Yes, thanks. I'm not questioning the fabric material, I'm questioning whether it's a decades old piece or a new piece, based on buttons, seam construction, wear, etc.

Oh I didn’t understand your question. There’s a burning-thread method you can try to determine whether it’s 1940s-or-earlier vs 1950s-or-later. See link below.

Vintage Outerwear: Threads of the Past

This guy is wearing a badass Aviator and he knows it. D-pocket, D ring cuff adjusters, D ring side adjusters. Does anyone recognize the maker? Closest match I found is this Simmons Bilt, from one of Rin Tanaka's books: This one is probably an earlier example, judging by the zip stopper (the...

www.thefedoralounge.com

 

[Despot]

Irvin Jacket - collar strap question

Hey folks - I recently picked up an Eastman Flyweight Irvin (which I love - great jacket) but I’m wondering what’s the correct way to use the collar elastic strap?

When I tighten it the strap seems to make the collar pucker up (if you get what I mean), but when loosened it just seems to flap out from under the collar when worn with the collar down.

I’ve found a happy medium where it sort of stays in equilibrium but it doesn’t seem to serve any real purpose when set that way (collar up or down). Just wondering if there’s something obvious I’m missing. Thanks

 

[Bmiller01]

Let me use a weather example to prove a point. I live in Southern California where it’s 70 degree Fahrenheit all year round. It’s hard for me to appreciate weather because it’s always nice. I used to live in Minnesota where it was so cold, like 9 months out of the year were cold with 5 months of snow not melting. But Minnesota has a nice summer of 3 months. People there, and I at the time, really appreciate the short summer while it lasted. But that’s short lived for me, because once I moved back to SoCal, I quickly forget about the weather and my prior appreciation for it. It’s like moving up in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Idk much about Bill Kelso but I assumes his product is also top notch. I know LW is. Maybe you’re itchy to experience the lows in order to appreciate the highs. Nothing is wrong with that, but it’s an exercise in futility for your wallet and would bring you immense disappointment. However, what you gain from the experience is greater appreciation for the 2 jackets you have already had. You’d prob end up selling the 5*.

Imo, if I were you, I’d just use one A-2 more often and make it a beater jacket to wear it out. I’d keep the other one with less use to be newer looking for special occasions. You have already had 2, not 1, you don’t need a beater jacket. Go explore other designs and top brands instead. Get a Cal, for example. Have you seen the following linked thread?

Repros are nice and all, but they can’t measure up to the real things. The former is either too perfectly engineered, as in the case with Freewheelers, or the grains haven’t even popped yet. The latter has so much more character and history behind it, I guarantee boredom wouldn’t a feeling you’d get like with repros. Others have experienced it and shared it all over the forum if you do a search. I’ve seen people’s jacket journeys recently and most of I saw was Aero, Vanson, Schott and 5*. My reaction was like “bro, you have not lived, even after 10+ jackets later.” @TartuWolf shots fired ******* pew

http://[URL]https://www.thefedoralo...cal-its-changing-my-outlook-on-things.103829/

[/URL]

This (Cal) could be yours. It came with the patinas someone else has already paid a lifetime of hard wearing for you.
View attachment 740246

If you only like A-2, fine. Get an original, like the one below.
View attachment 740248

you know, understand exactly what you mean and totally agree! also, i definitely will look into other styles as well!!

now to switch it up, you say get an Oringial a-2, is this the best place to find one? that would be sick to have for sure.

 

[jchance]

now to switch it up, you say get an Oringial a-2, is this the best place to find one? that would be sick to have for sure.

VLJ’s buy/sell. VLJ is more on the military side, and here is more on the civilian side. Their buy/sell often lists A-2 for half off before it hits greedbay. If there’s an A-2 original on eBay, you should ask the seller about his VLJ account. He’s likely to let you have it for half-off if he’s on VLJ.

The easiest and quickest way to get an original A-2 is to raid someone’s closet. If you post a WTB at VLJ, and are ready to fork over $500 or so, there should be one on its way to you soon.

A-2 is not my style, but if I were in the market for one, I’d get an original A-2 with nice patinas and grains. I’d rather overpay a bit for exactly what I want. YOLO.

 

[Bmiller01]

VLJ’s buy/sell. VLJ is more on the military side, and here is more on the civilian side. Their buy/sell often lists A-2 for half off before it hits greedbay. If there’s an A-2 original on eBay, you should ask the seller about his VLJ account. He’s likely to let you have it for half-off if he’s on VLJ.

The easiest and quickest way to get an original A-2 is to raid someone’s closet. If you post a WTB at VLJ, and are ready to fork over $500 or so, there should be one on its way to you soon.

A-2 is not my style, but if I were in the market for one, I’d get an original A-2 with nice patinas and grains. I’d rather overpay a bit for exactly what I want.

love it! Thank you for the wealth of wosdom. That sounds like a plan. still waiting till my 90 day waiting period is up on VLJ!

Cheers!

 

[JackBroChill]

Wondering what the legacy/history between cafe racer jackets with flat ****** pockets vs. the 'cat eye' style angled pockets. Is one typically associated with an earlier style?

Curious what people prefer. At first the angled style seemed a lot cooler to me but as time goes on I think I've started to prefer the simple flat zip pocket style instead.

 

[newtojackets]

Thoughts on this golden bear CHP?

 

[jchance]

Thoughts on this golden bear CHP? View attachment 743013

60s-70s Golden Bear, based on the label, was still quality product, if you can get it for a good price.

 

[newtojackets]

60s-70s Golden Bear, based on the label, was still quality product, if you can get it for a good price.

the only thing that i'm not sure off is the leather- appears to look a bit cheap

 

[jchance]

the only thing that i'm not sure off is the leather- appears to look a bit cheap

You can ask seller to retake the pic in the sun. Too much light reflection in that photo.

This doesn’t look cheap:

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[newtojackets]

You can ask seller to retake the pic in the sun. Too much light reflection in that photo.

This doesn’t look cheap:

http://[URL]https://ebay.us/m/GLMEBt

[/URL]

View attachment 743200

Think the one you sent if from a different era? At least the logo is different.

Seller is selling it for $150

 

[TLW '90]

How do you guys view action backs with dead elastic?
If it's not effecting the fit ( won't know till I receive it ) would you just wear the jacket as is, or would it bother you to know it's like this and obvious to others like you who'd notice ?

I keep seeing recommendations to repair jackets at home, but not everybody has a sewing machine or really knows how to sew.

I can saddle stitch to make holsters and knife sheaths, but that's about the extent of my skillset.

If anybody has done this repair at home, could they give me an objective assessment of the difficulty ?
I know you have to undo the lining at the top, but how far to be able to get my hands in there and where exacly are the ends of the elastic sewn to ?

 

[Tomek61]

If you've got a quick jacket question and don't see a thread for it, just post it here. Whether the question is about fit, design, patterns, choice of leather, makers, hardware etc,. this is the place.

Hi all, I’m not sure if this is the best forum for this Aero Original Hercules question but here goes. I’m just wondering why some pictures I’ve found of the jacket have the side adjustment cinches quite a way up the back when others (including in the made to measure section of the Aero website) have them right at the bottom. Is it just a customer specified option or have things changed over time?

Thanks